Page 51 of Lycan King's Claim
Laying back down, I set my phone aside and I rest my head on his shoulder. My body presses to his, his hands trailing slowly up my spine when he finally speaks.
“Are you going to tell me about what was wrong last night?” he asks, pressing his lips to my hair. “Nothing, I was just in a mood,” I lie, and he sighs loudly.
“I have to go,” he said.
“Go where?” I ask, trying not to cry.
“The city,” he says. “I have an appointment.” I nod, my thoughts going to the text message from Tasha.
“When will you be back?” I ask my voice barely a whisper.
He strokes my hair and kisses my forehead. “This afternoon,” he says. “I will try to be fast, I promise.” I chew my lip, my mind going over ways to sneak off the castle grounds; it will be easier with Xandros not here. But at the same time, escaping Javier is another thing entirely when he is appointed to be my guard and babysitter all the time.
We shower together, our bodies so close that the water runs off us both in rivulets. His hands are gentle on my skin, and he kisses me in a way that makes my heart ache with longing, while my mind says soon I'll be free of this constant tug of war.
When we emerge from the shower, he seems apprehensive to let me go. While I'm hesitant to step out of his embrace, savoring the scent I both love and hate. I want to remember the warmth of his body and the smell of his skin, to keep them with me when I leave.
“I will be back soon,” he says once dressed.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak without giving myself away.
He kisses me one more time, and then he is gone. I watch him walk toward the door. “Wait,” I call out. Xandros pauses by the door, hand gripping the handle. I keep drying my hair with a towel. “Can you maybe unlock the window? It's stuffy in here?” I ask, holding my breath. He eyes me suspiciously.
“Why, I can have the staff bring up a fan or install an air conditioner,”
“To let some fresh air in,” I lie smoothly. “It's rather stagnant in here.”
“Please, the room smells of sex, and Javier will be up the moment you leave. At least let me air the room out,” I tell him, my face flushing at the thought because it is true, the room reeks of our scent. Xandros smiles deviously.
He wanders over to the window and unlocks it. “Looks like a storm is brewing,” he comments, and my eyes go outside to see the trees swaying with the gusts, the cool breeze sweeps through the room, and Xandros wanders back over to me. He kisses me deeply, his lips tasting like promises I know he can't keep. I kiss him back with just as much hunger, not wanting him to suspect my plan. He finally leaves, and I call Tasha to tell her about my escape plan.
The storm outside brews darkness, a reflection of the turmoil within me. The wind howls and batters against the window panes, eager to be let in. Before Xandros left, I casually asked him where the keys were to the window. He pauses, confusion written on his face.
After our phone call, Javier checks on me, but I convince him I am tired and will be going back to bed. He hesitates, but eventually agrees, mentioning that King Rehan needed his help with something anyway. As soon as Javier leaves, I quickly pack a small bag and grab my phone before pausing to look at it in my hand; knowing Xandros can use it to track me, I decide to leave it behind.
I wait for the perfect moment, when the guards swap for lunch. As I peek out the window, I see the guards are distracted. Quickly slipping out, I don't hesitate to climb down the drainpipe, the cold metal underneath my bare feet. The window is on the second floor, and I have to make it past the first-floor windows.
I'm careful to avoid looking down and focus on my immediate surroundings, my heart pounding in my chest. I shimmy down the drainpipe, each footstep an eternity. I don't dare glance up at the windows, but I hear the guards chatting about their day. I hesitate, then start down the drainpipe again, my feet slipping. One of my hands is holding on to the metal, the other clinging to the ivy.
I pause when I reach the ground, looking around for any sign of guards or patrols. Seeing none, I took a deep breath before sprinting towards the tree line.
The wind whips my hair around my face as I run, urging me on as if it is urging me to freedom. I pass by the dungeons where I had once been held prisoner, not daring to look back, unsure if the dungeons are guarded when no one is down there. As soon as I reach the woods, I dive behind a bush and crouch there until I am sure no one saw me.
I step out from my hiding spot and make my way further into the forest. My heart still pounding in my chest as fear grips me with every step. The harsh weather conditions test my resolve as the bitter cold seeps into my bones, making me want to turn back around, searching for warmth when the temperature plummets. A huge storm blows across the land, bringing heavy rain and turning the ground into slick mud. But despite the freezing cold rain, I press on, driven by the desire for freedom and a life of my own choosing.
Eventually, though, after what feels like hours of running, I collapse onto the ground, exhausted. I just need to get to the road where Tasha is waiting.
When I finally reach the road, Tasha is waiting for me. She starts driving me to a cottage on the other side of the city that belongs to the witch. During the drive, Tasha voices her concerns about my plan to leave the city afterward.
“I don't understand. Why can't you stay? The bond would be broken, and he could just take another mate.” But I know the truth – he'd never allow it, not without killing me or keeping me prisoner for the rest of my life.
“He'll kill me. Xandros won't let me go that easily, especially now,” I whisper, and she glances at me.
“What do you mean?” she asks. I chew my lip before sucking in a breath, I can trust Tasha.
“I'm pregnant, but even if I wasn't, he won't let me go, Tash. I can't be here once the bond breaks, I'll need to leave and fast,” I tell her. The weight of my decision becomes even heavier.
“You're pregnant,” she murmurs in shock, she opens her mouth but then closes it. She is quiet for a second, and we continue driving, both trapped in our thoughts.
